Native Prey and Invasive Predator Patterns of Foraging Activity: The Case of the Yellow-Legged Hornet Predation at European Honeybee Hives

Abstract

Contrary to native predators, which have co-evolved with their prey, alien predators often benefit from native prey naïveté. Vespa velutina, a honeybee predator originating from Eastern China, was introduced into France just before 2004. The present study, based on video recordings of two beehives at an early stage of the invasion process, intends to analyse the alien hornet hunting behaviour on the native prey, Apis mellifera, and to understand the interaction between the activity of the predator and the prey during the day and the season. Chasing hornets spent most of their time hovering facing the hive, to catch flying honeybees returning to the hive. The predation pressure increased during the season confirming previous study based on predator trapping. The number of honeybee captures showed a maximum peak for an intermediate number of V. velutina, unrelated to honeybee activity, suggesting the occurrence of competition between hornets. The number of honeybees caught increased during midday hours while the number of hornets did not vary, suggesting an increase in their efficacy. These results suggest that the impact of V. velutina on honeybees is limited by its own biology and behaviour and did not match the pattern of activity of its prey. Also, it could have been advantageous during the invasion, limiting resource depletion and thus favouring colonisation. This lack of synchronization may also be beneficial for honeybee colonies by giving them an opportunity to increase their activity when the hornets are less effective.

Feeding strategies and intraspecific competition in German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica)

“…Unlike findings described for Vespa tropica [40], Vespa velutina and Vespa crabro [41], we never observed V . germanica capturing foragers in flight returning to the hive, despite being easy prey because they are weighed down by nectar or pollen load, and “tired” after the flight activity.…”

Vespa velutinanest distribution at a local scale: An 8‐year survey of the invasive honeybee predator

“…Moreover, the number of nests continued to increase in our study area from year to year since the first appearance of V. velutina in 2007, which suggested that the carrying capacity of the area (i.e., the overall resource availability in support of nesting and/or food sources) was not reached yet. Indeed, V. velutina forms large colonies that produce thousands of individuals that require huge quantities of proteins, which explained the impressive predation pressure on honeybee colonies (Monceau et al ., ,b; ). Therefore, the carrying capacity of the environment may yet affect the number of nests.…”

“…The yellow‐legged hornet, Vespa velutina , was first observed in France in 2004 and has since proliferated throughout the French territory, with spread also into Spain and Portugal and more recently, into Italy (Monceau et al ., ; Arca et al ., ). The invasion of this hornet species causes several ecological, economic and public health problems, with predation on domestic honeybees as the most obvious current problem (Monceau et al ., ,b; Arca et al ., ). In addition to the effect on bees as pollinators, V. velutina is also a source of stress for beekeepers and has a clear, critical effect on the professional activities of small beekeepers (Monceau et al ., ).…”

Activity rhythm and action range of workers of the invasive hornet predator of honeybees Vespa velutina, measured by radio frequency identification tags

“…Up to date, only direct observations or video records have allowed monitoring the activity of V. velutina (Monceau, Arca, et al., 2013 2017; Monceau, Bonnard, et al, 2013; Monceau et al., 2017; Perrard, Haxaire, Rortais, & Villemant, 2009). Our results are in line with these previous studies.…”